Sugar surprises and everything nice

TUCKED in a corner along Banilad road is a pastry shop that has proven to be quite the surprise for everyone who has walked through its doors. It has a charming all-pink motif that has given it a buzz around social media and a varied selection of goodies that has made patrons come back for more. Calling it Sweet Surprises couldn’t be more precise.

Opened in November 2013, Sweet Surprises is managed by mom and daughter-in-law tandem, Lita and Janeen Quisumbing. Lita has been in the baking industry for the last 35 years accepting orders for cupcakes, pastry bars and cakes from her home. She is a self-taught cooking and baking guru who occasionally holds classes in Caro & Marie, and finds delight in teaching those around her, including Janeen.

“These are recipes my mother-in-law has mastered over the years and has now passed on to me,” Janeen said. Together they dressed the shop to be as sweet and cute as it can possibly be—with pink fixtures everywhere, accentuated with trinkets that have cupcake shapes and designs. Most of the collectibles, Janeen said, they got from their travels abroad.

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“Our specialty is our cupcakes,” she said. “But we also have bundt and pound cakes, pies, and cookies. Then those looking for a heavier treat, can try our sandwiches and pair it with our milkshakes. So far we have red velvet and fudge brownie milkshake flavors.”

Sweet Surprises’ cupcakes come in several flavors including red velvet, cookie butter, yema, chocolate ganache, coffee bean, banana hazelnut (Nutella), surprise carrot and marble, a combination of chocolate and vanilla. “Our bestseller is the yema because for one, it’s rather unique here in Cebu,” she said. All of their cupcake flavors have special—surprise—fillings inside and are characterized by their moist textures.

Janeen said they also accept orders for food items that Lita has been known for, such as the homemade Spanish chorizo and the chili and corn bread, and just recently, candy bouquets and dessert buffets for parties. As if that’s not enough, in one side of the shop is an area for goodies not commonly sold elsewhere in Cebu like imported chocolates and candies, baking utensils and party décor.

Quite a mouthful? With all those goodies under one roof, indeed a good kind of surprise–and a feast for all senses—waits whoever walks in its doors. Sweet Surprises is located on the ground floor of JDA Building, right by the entrance of Paradise Village in Banilad, Cebu City. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays to Saturdays.

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